Grainyhand hermit • Pagurus granosimanus

Photos by Dawn Fizzard (left) and Jenn Burt (right).

IdentificationThis hermit crab is readily identified by its solid orange antennae and by the white or blue granules that dot its olive-green carapace and claws. These granules are especially noticeable on the claws, and they extend to the body, unseen in the shell. The carapace gets to 2 cm long.

Habitat & RangeThe grainyhand hermit can be found in tidepools and under rocks in the low and mid intertidal of protected beaches. It is also found in the subtidal, to 36 m deep, and may occur in groups in sandy-bottomed locations. It is a fairly common intertidal crustacean, with a range extending from northern Alaska to northern Mexico.